Page 193 of Force Play
Josh sighs. “Just tell us what happened, Ari.”
“Nothing happened.”
“You told Lucia to go on a date with another man,” Lane bellows. “That’s not ‘nothing.’”
“I don’t understand why we’re getting on me,” I chide. “Lucia is free to date whoever she wants.”
“I will never understand how you arestillthis fucking dense,” Cole groans. “We’ve known each other for like eight years, and I’ve never seen you actthisstupid.”
I’mnotacting stupid.
I’m giving Lucia what she wants with somebody who wants to give it to her.
It’s selfless, really.
“How the hell did this even happen?” Knox asks.
I recount the day. “We were in the gym this morning. We hooked up, and everything was fine. Then some fucker named John texted her and asked her out on a date tonight.”
“And you told her to go?” Josh stares at me, dumbfounded.
Join the fucking club, brother.
“Yup,” I chuckle harshly. “It was my cum dripping out of her this morning, and now she’s going on a date with another man.”
“Okay,” Cole starts. “I’m going to tell you what I always tell my wife—it’sreallyokay to keep some things to ourselves.”
“Sorry.” I pinch my brow. “That was oversharing.”
“It was. But your picturesque description makes it clear that you have feelings for her.”
“I don’t.”
“Lucia is going on a date with someone else, and you’restillgoing to fucking deny that you want her?” Lane just stares at me in disbelief. “Come on, Ari.”
“All that matters right now is what Lucia wants,” I shrug. “She wants to build a life with someone. We were just having sex.”
“You can’t seriously believe that,” Knox states emphatically. “Lucia never looked at Matt the way she looks at you.”
“Maybe that’s the way she looks at John.” My lips curl up in a sneer when I say his name.
Cole throws his head back and covers his face with his hands. “Will you fucking stop and admit it already?”
“Admit what?”
“That you’re jealous, Ari!” he yells, arms waving wildly. “You’re jealous that she’s going on a date with someone else, and you’re too dense to fucking admit it.”
“Of course, I’m fucking jealous!” I shout far louder than I intended, but I can’t stop myself. I’m powerless to keep all of this inside anymore. “She’s going out with him when I’m right here! She should be withme!”
My words ring through the air, and it takes a moment for me to realize what I just said. The guys just look at me with widening, knowing smiles.
“Fuckingfinally!”Cole cheers.
“Holy shit.” It’s the only thing I can manage to say after what I just screamed. My heart is hammering in my chest. “Holy fucking shit.”
Cole rubs his hands together. “I’ve been waiting two and a half years for this, Ari—I fucking told you so!”
“I have the revelation of a lifetime, and you just want to tell me, ‘I told you so?’”
